Cold comfort at Le Petit Versailles

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

We stopped by Le Petit Versailles yesterday afternoon for "Melt Ice Melt," an all-day program at the community garden on Second Street between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

The centerpiece was Robert Ladislas Derr's "All That Is Solid Melts Into Air" — an ice bench that visitors were invited to sit on as it slowly melted.

Participants were asked to describe the experience on camera and see how long they could remain seated. The record stood at just over three minutes when we were there.

We asked two participants how it felt. Both offered the same understandable assessment: "It's cold." 

Derr joined the event by live video, and the afternoon included a Know Your Rights training focused on protections against ICE. 

The program concluded with a screening of Katherine Liberovskaya's "Ice-Out SP," accompanied by David Watson on live electric guitar.

Check out the garden venue's website for more cool events.

An ice day to visit Le Petit Versailles today

Le Petit Versailles is hosting "Melt Ice Melt" today from noon to 10 p.m. at the community garden, 247 E. Second St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

Starting at noon, visitors are invited to sit on Robert Ladislas Derr's ice bench, "All That Is Solid Melts Into Air," as it slowly disappears during the August heat. 

The installation will be recorded throughout the day, along with participants' responses to questions about notable changes in their lives. 

From 5 to 7 p.m., the garden will host a Know Your Rights training focused on protections against ICE.

At 8 p.m., there will be a screening of Katherine Liberovskaya’s "Ice-Out SP," a 59-minute close-up of ice cubes slowly melting in a stainless-steel sink. The video features Phill Niblock’s drone composition "Stosspeng," with David Watson accompanying the screening on live electric guitar.

Details.

A Keith Haring-inspired 'Pop Shop' tribute on 8th Street

A small tribute to Keith Haring's original Pop Shop has popped up at Allied Productions' studio at 368 E. Eighth St., between Avenue C and Avenue D. 

Timed to coincide with the Haring exhibition at the Brant Foundation on Sixth Street, the installation runs through April 17 and nods to the artist's Pop Shop, which debuted in 1986 on Lafayette Street. 

The space features donated posters from Sur Rodney (Sur) and ephemera from Mark Harada, all available for purchase. Proceeds support Allied's mission and public projects, including Le Petit Versailles Garden on Second Street. 

Visits are by appointment only (212-529-8815); additional details are available via Allied's online shop.

About a Keith Haring poster exhibition to benefit Le Petit Versailles on 2nd Street

Details via the EVG inbox... 

Allied Productions, Inc. and Le Petit Versailles Community Garden are proud to host a special exhibition featuring four rare posters by iconic artist Keith Haring at ELKEL, the menswear boutique in the same building where Haring once lived during the peak of the Downtown East Village art boom in the 1980s.

The posters, generously donated by Sur Rodney (Sur) formerly of Gracie Mansion Gallery, will be available for purchase during the exhibition, with proceeds directly benefiting Allied Productions, Inc. and the revitalization of their venue, Le Petit Versailles, the community garden on Second Street between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

Reception: Thursday, Nov. 7, from 5-8 p.m. 

Nov. 8-10 from noon-6 p.m. 

ELKEL, 325 Broome St., between Chrystie and the Bowery 

More details here.

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at Le Petit Versailles Community Garden today on Second Street between Avenue B and Avenue C for the "succulent sale" that we mentioned yesterday...

A 'Succulent Sale' to raise funds for Le Petit Versailles Community Garden on 2nd Street

Happening tomorrow (Sunday) at Le Petit Versailles Community Garden on Second Street between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Via the EVG inbox:

For her Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence NYC novice project, lovely sister-wife Novice Sharin Stoned is holding a "succulent sale" at Le Petit Versailles Community Garden. 

All proceeds from the sale will be donated to the garden to help with its upkeep. Come down and support Sharin's lovely endeavor by buying a plant, donating a plant to be sold, or just hanging out and keeping us company. 

Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Check out some of the events at Le Petit here. 

About Bastille Day at Le Petit Versailles Garden (there will be cake)

If you want to celebrate Bastille Day and support a vibrant community garden, look no further than Le Petit Versailles.

The arts and performance space at 247 E. Second St. between Avenue B and Avenue C is hosting its annual Cake Sale tomorrow (Sunday!) to benefit Le Petit Versailles. Bakers include John Michael Swartz, WunderWolfe and M, Peewee Nyob and Shelley Persinger, among others.

The sale starts at 2 p.m., followed by two live music sets later in the day. Find more info here.

A Book Exxxposition at Le Petit Versailles

A lot is going on for the rest of the summer at Le Petit Versailles, one of our favorite community gardens. Here's a look at tomorrow's event...

Saturday, July 30 

SOILED: A Book Exxxposition featuring erotic and pornographic materials by contemporary artists 

Le Petit Versailles garden presents SOILED: A Book Exxxposition and showcase of artists who publish erotic zines, books and other artist multiples. 

First organized by Matthew Leifheit in 2017, this year's iteration includes live performances and erotically charged films, in addition to artist multiples from Drake Carr + John Patrikas, Jeremy O. Harris, Rachel Stern, Michael Bailey-Gates and Shala Miller. 

The order of events: Noon, book fair; 6 p.m., performances; 8:30 p.m., film program. You can reserve a space here. 

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Le Petit Versailles is at 247 E. Second St./346 E. Houston St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. The events are free, though donations are welcome. 

Find more events coming soon to Le Petit here.

'In The Realm Of Anansi From Assisi' continues on at Le Petit Versailles

"In The Realm Of Anansi From Assisi," an installation by longtime East Village resident Peter Cramer, continues through Sept. 13 at Le Petit Versailles, the community garden and arts space at 247 E. Second St. (aka 346 E. Houston St.) between Avenue B and Avenue C.

There is limited public access (three mask-wearing people at a time while keeping social distance) Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 8 to 10. Otherwise, there is viewing daily from outside the fences on Second Street.

Here's more about the installation via the EVG inbox:

In The Realm of Anansi From Assisi (ITROAFA) is an immersive environment of the storyteller Anasi, a mythical African spider god, a fantastical garden landscape of light and line — a place of pilgrimage and healing where visitors may wander finding solace and respite during this time of disease.

The sculpture, visual elements, moving images, and sounds created by the principal artists reconcile science with mythology; from the evocation of the creation of the universe to the emergence of hominid creatures and culminating with the emergence of language represented by Anansi.

On Thursday (Aug. 20) evening at 7:30, Le Petit Versailles is hosting a live concert by NYOBS, the alternative experimental free association "kitchen" band featuring Mike Cacciatore, Peter Cramer, John Michael Swartz and Jack Waters.

You may listen from the sidewalk outside the garden or enjoy the sounds via Zoom. Find more details at the events page on Facebook.

Super-8 films and poetry Friday night at Le Petit Versailles

Via the EVG inbox...

Local poet-filmmaker Stephanie Gray will be showing her experimental super-8 films and reading poetry this Friday (May 19), at 8 in an evening titled "We Be We Know" at Le Petit Versailles, the community garden at 346 E. Houston St./247 E. Second St. near Avenue C. Evening starts with poetry, ends with film. Rain or shine.

Find a listing of the films here. The Facebook events page is here.

A history of art and activism at Le Petit Versailles

From the EVG inbox... via the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space

Please join us for an evening with East Village artists Jack Waters and Peter Cramer. In 1996 they started Le Petit Versailles, a New York City LGBTQ community garden located at 346 East Houston St. Petit Versailles is internationally known as an art space of cultural significance that presents year round public events including exhibitions, music, film/video, performance, theater, workshops and community projects.


(From left, Jack Waters, Peter Cramer)

Cramer and Waters will talk about their lives and history as green gardeners, AIDS/ queer activists, and artists. In addition to a slideshow on queer downtown, they will show clips from LPVTV, a 13 part Manhattan Neighborhood Network public access cable series documenting Le Petit Versailles events and history.

Find the Facebook event page here with more info.

The event is tomorrow night from 7:35-9. MoRUS is located at 155 Avenue C between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street.

[Images via MoRUS]